Strictly Business Omaha Visits Las Vegas, 2010

Las Vegas remains one of our favorite places to vacation, probably because you can go there so many times and always have something new to do or somewhere new to visit. Last Vegas is always changing and it’s so much fun to go see the new casinos, restaurants and clubs as well as stay at or visit places we haven’t had a chance to on trips past. Our trip this time was built around the fashion marketplace shows that we attended with a few of our boutique clients, which you can read more about in our Spring Fashion story this month. But for more on what we did in Vegas when we weren’t at market, keep reading!

This is the first time that we as a staff stayed downtown and it is definitely a different experience! We stayed at the El Cortez Cabana Suites, which just opened in May of 2009. Although the suites are a part of the El Cortez Hotel and Casino, they are stand-alone and are more of a boutique hotel with their own entrance and security, workout facility and décor. The entire hotel has a vintage South Beach Miami feel to it and each of the 64 rooms has a plush bed, walk-in shower, 42-inch flat screen TV, refrigerator and coffee maker.

We also made our way to the main hotel for a lunch at the Café Cortez, which we thoroughly enjoyed! Everything you can imagine is on this menu, and we took full advantage with our feast of pancakes, omelet, shrimp cocktail, prime rib and fajitas with a delicious slice of banana crème pie for dessert!! Affordable, quick and with great service, Café Cortez is perfect for a filling lunch before you hit the tables!

An interesting Nebraska tie to the El Cortez is that long time owner Jackie Gaughan is an Omaha native. Gaughan turned 89 in October and has a lasting legacy as one of the most influential figures in Las Vegas history. He even has a building named after him on the University of Nebraska campus!

We really enjoyed our stay at El Cortez Cabana Suites. The hotel was quiet, beautifully decorated and the rooms were extremely comfortable and well-equipped. It was a quick walk to Fremont Street where there is plenty of food and entertainment options and about a $25 cab ride to the strip. A very good option if you want to check out downtown!

We fell in love with Cirque du Soleil shows last time we were in Vegas when we got the opportunity to see Ka. That’s why we were so excited this time to get the chance to see Mystere and I can definitely say we weren’t disappointed! Mystere is an amazing blend of whimsy, drama and the unimaginable brought to live on stage that combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and breath-taking imagery that is synonymous with Cirque du Soleil. If you haven’t been to one of the company’s shows, it’s a little difficult to describe, but just imagine characters cracking jokes, high-flying acrobats, jaw-dropping feats of strength and so much more. There were so many times we turned to each other with open mouths, astounded at what we were seeing on stage. If you are in Vegas, a Cirque du Soleil show is a must and we certainly recommend Mystere.

We planned one nice dinner out during our trip, and we were extremely glad we chose Dos Caminos after our amazing dinner there. Dos Caminos Las Vegas is the fourth outpost of the Mexican cuisine mecca and the first outside of New York City. The décor in this restaurant is funky and appealing and the wide open seating makes you feel like you are among a huge group of friends.

Dos Caminos Las Vegas offers authentic, inventive Mexican fare along with a vibrant bar scene. Building on classic Mexican staples of guacamole, empanadas and tacos, the menu includes signature items created exclusively for Las Vegas from Corporate Executive Chef Scott Linquist, who has overseen the brand expansion and openings of all Dos Caminos locations as well as co-authored the Dos Caminos cookbook, Mod Mex. Our server and the chef did a phenomenal job of providing us with a great combination of dishes, including their amazing guacamole, Chilean Sea Bass Veracruzano and a selection of ceviches.

We were also treated to one of the restaurants signature margaritas, a flight of top-notch tequilas and a pitcher of their tasty sangria while we ate, which of course made the meal that much better! Whether you are looking for classic Mexican food or a fusion of Mexican and other cuisines, you will certainly find something to love at Dos Caminos and you won’t find better customer service anywhere else!

If you’re visiting Vegas with the girls (especially if it’s for a birthday or bachelorette party), you should consider heading on over to Hooters Casino to see the male equivalent of X Burlesque—Men of X! This all-male revue features everything from desirable doctors to fierce firemen and sexy soldiers, all dancing to tempting choreography and even doing some crowd interaction!

The show was created by Angela and Matt Stabile, the husband and wife team that produces “X Burlesque” at the Flamingo Las Vegas. They created Men of “X” as the male counterpart to the sultry topless revue, presenting a variety of appealing adult entertainment. The show is affordable and fun and there even special packages for bridal parties! Men of X shows nightly at 9 pm (dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

Studio 54 | Inside the MGM Grand | (702) 891-7254

If you’re looking for a fun night club while in Vegas, you should check out Studio 54 in the MGM Grand. This modern interpretation of the original features state-of-the-art sound, video and lighting and chart-topping dance music. This 22,000 square-foot nightclub offers four dance floors and bars, several semi-private lounges and an exclusive area on the second floor for invited guests.

We visited Studio 54 on a Friday evening and found it to not be too crowded but with a good number of people there. It was easy to make it to the bar of find a spot on the dance floor and we especially enjoyed the dancers (both male and female) they had up on pedestals around the dance floor.

High above the glittering expanse of Las Vegas, the 8,000 square foot ghostbar is a sultry and sophisticated indoor-outdoor lounge and sky deck on the 55th floor of the Palms Casino Resort. ghostbar is open seven nights a week, which worked out well for us since we were looking for somewhere to go on a Monday night. This bar is very visually impressive with fourteen foot floor-to-ceiling windows, a 30-foot ghost-shaped soffit in the ceiling that changes colors, and ultra-contemporary furniture to lounge on. We also made sure to go outside onto the skydeck that provides almost a 360-degree view of Vegas and has a glass insert you can stand on and get a view straight down.

Ghostbar is the perfect place if you still want to go somewhere hip and modern, but aren’t in the mood for a rowdy dance club. With its relaxing yet still exciting atmosphere, signature cocktails (make sure you try the ‘ghostini’) and breathtaking views, ghostbar should be on your list of places to visit